Might be of Moving to Montana (Billings, Bozeman: ski resorts, crime, credit)

[Tabbychic]

I currently live in Colorado, but everyone seems to be moving here, and it's getting to be crowded, a lot of homeless and crime has gone up a lot. Downtown is not the same anymore, roads to the mountains are crazy. My husband and I are considering Montana.It seems the closest to what Colorado used to be. What towns would you recommend? I looked in Bozeman and the homes are very plain looking, but I believe thats the biggest city in Montana. A ranch home might be better, away from the city but still have access to hospitals and shopping.

[NW Crow]

At city level, Billings is more than twice as big as Bozeman, 125k to 58k. Billings biggest in state, Bozeman 4th. But at metro level, it is 184k to 119k. Bozeman metro will relatively soon probably become 2nd biggest metro but not yet.

Bozeman's houses are "plain-looking"? Probably will need to say more about preferences and budget to get useful advice, but there are older neighborhoods... with low turnover. Ranch homes? How much land, how close to town, at what cost?

Have you browsed past threads? Most issues get repeatedly considered.

If you have strong interest in urban features, Billings might deserve consideration; though as Montana's largest city, crime, homelessness and traffic are rising concerns to at least some. Bozeman is not immune to these concerns but the biggest issue is affordability for many.

Are you fully prepared to move from a moderately large metro to relatively small one? If not, Boise or Reno are much closer to your current place.

How interested in wild Montana are you?

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Tabbychic

I currently live in Colorado, but everyone seems to be moving here, and it's getting to be crowded, a lot of homeless and crime has gone up a lot. Downtown is not the same anymore, roads to the mountains are crazy. My husband and I are considering Montana.It seems the closest to what Colorado used to be. What towns would you recommend? I looked in Bozeman and the homes are very plain looking, but I believe thats the biggest city in Montana. A ranch home might be better, away from the city but still have access to hospitals and shopping.

If you want to get away from Colorado for the reasons you listed Bozeman is not the place. It has all the problems you described and unless you have a few million lying around, it's unaffordable. Plain looking houses are probably the least of your concerns.

[Threerun]

Originally Posted by Tabbychic

I currently live in Colorado, but everyone seems to be moving here, and it's getting to be crowded, a lot of homeless and crime has gone up a lot. Downtown is not the same anymore, roads to the mountains are crazy. My husband and I are considering Montana.It seems the closest to what Colorado used to be. What towns would you recommend? I looked in Bozeman and the homes are very plain looking, but I believe thats the biggest city in Montana. A ranch home might be better, away from the city but still have access to hospitals and shopping.

Budget? Jobs? You want to be close to the mountains and ski resorts? Do you want sunny weather or can you put up with cloudy and damp winters?

My brother-in-law lives in Longmont and he has desperately wanted to leave. He looked at Kalispell (took a trip in the winter) and he knocked it off his list due to the grey, no sun environment. It's also growing like hotcakes and he feels it would be another Longmont before too long. He and his family go to Big Sky to ski every year and although he likes Bozeman and surrounds, he doesn't want to spend the money required to live there.

Montana is a big state and it would be helpful if you narrowed it down a bit.

[Shuffler]

If the OP thinks "MT is what CO used to be", sorry. It's been discovered and is in the process of being sold out to the highest bidders pretty much anywhere close to key amenities like an airport, a decent hospital, water, and mountains. MT has always had drugs, homeless, crime, etc. but 'per capita' I suppose it's less than CO ... casual observation is that it's gotten a lot worse the past few years.

Being a CO guy for the better part of 45yrs (grew up in Longmont), I can tell you with complete confidence that you WILL come to dread Winters and Springs in MT, due to the damp/dreary/gray weather. Bought ski pass this year and haven't bothered due to lackluster conditions ... I grew up skiing in CO and this pales in comparison - so I think I'm done with that hobby.

We're way down on snowpack this season, which doesn't bode well for fires. If you thought the smoke in CO was bad, just wait till you experience a MT fire season ... we get smoked here from other regions even if we're not on fire. We had smoke roll in from Alberta last MAY. That might happen again if fires kick up.

If you don't have stellar credit and financing available, bring a few million in liquidity or plan to look at properties East of the divide, where things are far less populated and more affordable (for good reasons). It's the true 'Big Sky' country out there.

Your post sort of implies that you haven't given this much thought yet, so hopefully we've given you some things to think about.

[Tabbychic]

I can work remote since 2020, and I have a high budget for a home, however Montana could be a bit too cold, but it seems like a lovely state.

[NDak15]

I'm not sure what your budget is (nor do I care, none of my business) but I'll just leave these numbers here. As far as cold, it gets bad but nothing like the Hi-Line. That area is something else.
https://www.zillow.com/bozeman-mt/

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by Tabbychic

I can work remote since 2020, and I have a high budget for a home, however Montana could be a bit too cold, but it seems like a lovely state.

Flathead County averaged anywhere from 30-60% bumps in property tax. We got hit with 60%.

The 'pretty places with amenities' got hit the hardest, of course.

Something else to think about.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by Tabbychic

I currently live in Colorado, but everyone seems to be moving here, and it's getting to be crowded, a lot of homeless and crime has gone up a lot..

If you're seeking to avoid rapid growth states, check Montana off the list.

Instead, look at Wyoming, Alaska, Vermont, NH and Maine. Reality check: homelessness and drug related crimes have increased pretty much everywhere.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Arktikos

If you're seeking to avoid rapid growth states, check Montana off the list.

Instead, look at Wyoming, Alaska, Vermont, NH and Maine. Reality check: homelessness and drug related crimes have increased pretty much everywhere.

I'd scratch Wyoming off. They're pretty unfriendly to outsiders, especially from Colorado.